Improvement in alphabetical telegraphs



C. T.. CHESTER.. ALPHABETICAL TBLBGRAPE.

N0. 34,480. y Patented. Feb. 25, .1862.

NTTEE STATES PATENT EFICE.

CHARLES T. CHESTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. AAG. dated February 25, 1862.

ness and certainty may be given -to the transt mitting or circuit-breaking apparatus; thirdly,

the transmitting and reeeivin g apparatus may' be combined or separated at will, so that the same lettered dial may be used for both.

Referring now to the drawings that accompany this specification, the letters of which in the different iigures indicate the same parts, Figure l is an outline view of the relative Vparts of the receiving apparatus; Fig. 2, an

outline view of the relative parts of the transmitting apparatus; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the receiving and transmitting apparatus separated, and Fig. 4 a cross-section of the same united or combined.

In the receiving apparatus I use adelicate train of clock-wheels, w fw w w, propelled by spring or Weight. The last ot' the train, w', is an escape-wheel, the number of whose teeth is halt' the number of letters or signs to be expressed. The shape of the teeth is perfectedand adapted to the pallets c, so that each tooth is released with the least possible resistance.

To the pallet-lever a o e is attached 'the armature a, acted on by the electro-magnet M, which may be of any desired size, but which shouldlbe adjustable in power, and for the purpose I prefer the adjustable form patented to Ine September 4, 1860, and of which an i111-, perfect view is shown in Fig. l, s being the screw to push the core c away from the armature a, and q the spring to pull it toward a. When a current of comparatively feeble power is passed through the wires ofthis magnet it gives power enough to attract the armature a, cause the lever to turn at o, and the pallet ou the left to release one tooth. When the magnet-power is withdrawn a spring, d, pulls the lever in a reverse direction and a pallet on the right releases one tooth. 'Thus the magnetic vibrations, by allowing theescape of successive teeth of w, allow the .fine needle or when connected with a lettered or numbered dial-plate, constitute the whole of the receiving apparatus.

The transmitting apparatus, Figs. 2, 3, and 4. consists of an arm or pointer, H E H H, whose shape obviously allows it to pass over and around the dial without obscuring the letters. This pointer is attached transversely to a hollow shaft, with which it revolves, carrying the wheels a and m. This hollow shaft has bearings inthe plate t and the'supporting-plate a, the pointer being` above the plate t and the wheels below it. n is a ratchetwheel, which, with its pawl, (not shown in the drawings,) preventsthepointerfrom moving backward. m is a Wheel,.shaped as in Fig. 2, whose teeth correspond in number with the teeth of the escape-wheel. This wheel m, in its revolution, brings the platina points pand p irmly together, thus closing eirculit.; ,As each tooth of the wheel presses upon the" triangular projection on the under surface of the flat spring ze it raises the spring, and with it the platina wire p. Before the spring is at-its highest elevation p meets p-a corresponding platina wireori the under surface of another at spring, z' z. p can, however, being iixed to a screw,v r, be brought more or less -near p and the contact between them made more or less firm, since the nearer these points are the more pressure is exerted by the spring z z'. J arrin g vibration, is prevented by the support extending from' the pillar lo, which serves, as does l, to convey the current. This plan for breaking and closing circuits quickly and steadily is found very efficient and easily kept in order.

The combination ot' the receiving and transmitting apparatus is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The receiving parts are placed firmly in the bottom of a box,`B,' the needle-'shaft occupying the exact center. The transmitting part is attached to the hinged lid of this box, with its hollow' shaft also in the exact center of the lid. The.

needle-shaft passes through the hollow shaft of the transmitter, and a very light needle is The manner of using the instruments is as follows: Electrical connection is established between two or more instruments by leading one end of the wire of the magnet of the re" ceiving part of the instrument through any required length of conductor to one end of the magnet-wireof the other instrument. The other end of the magnet-wire of each instrument passes to the pillar l of the transmitter, thence, when p and p' connect, to the pillar k, and thence tothe galvanic battery and groundwire or its equivalent. It will be seen that every time p and p touch eachother the circuit is closed, and when they recede it is broken. The usual adjustments being made to adapt the magnets motion to the strength of the electric current, the lid being closed and the needle set on its shaft, the rst movements are to secure unison between the two or more instruments in electric connection. The pointers are first turned arou'ndto Stor any character produced by an open circuit by mechanically vibrating the-pallet1evers by a little pushing-rod projecting from the boxes, and which is shown (Fig. 1) at V. This rod passes easily through two supports connected with the magnet-frame. By the inger this rodisl pressed in direction of the arrow against the lever a o c, which forces the lpallets. to

'move to the left, releasing one tooth of the escape-wheel.4 On taking o' the finger the spiral spring y forces the rod back again, and the spring d causes the lever to move and the pallets to move to the right, releasing another tooth. .Thus the needles are also quickly brought to &. Moving the pointer, now, one letter forward, all instruments are in unison, and he who wishes to send a message turns Vhis pointer around, always in one direction,

movement ot' the pointer, resting at each indicated letter. Thus words and sentences are easily spelled out. To indicate the end of a word a pause is made at eitherof the stars (t) at the top or bottom of the dial, whichever may be nearest to the last letter of the word.

This general mode et' telegraphing has been long used; but in every form with which I. have been able to make myself acquainted the pallets have either been made to propel or force forward the escape-wheel, or else the escapewheel shaft is made to carry an intermitting wheel and apparatus, either of which plans is 'attended with too much friction to make the instruments serviceable on long lines. Again, in the construction of the best forms of these instruments two separate dials are used, which is an evident disadvantage, as the eye cannot look at two dials at the same time. By divesting the receiving apparatus of all superiuous work, and making it of the finest clock-work gear, and carrying a very light needle, I am able without difficulty to transmit messages over two hundred miles.

Disclaiming, therefore, as my invention the general features of alphabetical telcgraphs, and which are only described in these specifications to make the improvements more clearly understood,

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The use, in alphabetical telegraphs, of a train of wheels actuating an escape-wheel, in connection with pallets actuated by electromotive force, whenthese parts are combined to operate an indicating-needle, substantially i'n the manner set forth.

2. The handle or pointer, with its hollow shaft, ratchet wheel, toothed wheel, two springs, with adjustable points, combined substantially as described, and forming the transmitting apparatus.

3. The arrangement for combination of these two parts of the complete instrument, so that one dial answers forreceiving and transmitting apparatus, andthe parts may be instantly separated and examined, substantially is described.

Datedy at New York, December 9, 1861.

CHARLES T. CHESTER.

Witnesses:

J oHN DAVIDsoN, PETER D. KENNY. 

